19 May, 201318:34:54
May 19, 2013 (LBO) - A delegation of Iraqi officials have called for tighter controls on exports of Sri Lankan tea to stop refuse tea from entering their country and also complained about production processes at factories, the trade ministry said.
Sabah Azeez Hasan, deputy director general at Iraqi ministry of science and technology had produced samples of refuse tea found in Baghdad markets branded as Pure Ceylon Tea during a meeting with commerce minister Rishad Bathiudeen. The commerce ministry quoting Export Development Board data said Iraq was the fifth largest destination for Ceylon Tea importing 82.95 million US dollars of tea and about 70 percent of tea imported to Iraq was from Sri Lanka. The delegation from Iraq included Zainab Lateef, director, Iraqi automated analysis division), Lateefa Mourad, chair, chemistry division of Iraqi food industry department), Salim Adid Ali Biologist, food industry department) and Nagham Dhafir, biologist, Iraqi standards division. Unsatisfactory Officials from Sri Lanka's EDB, customs and Tea Board had been at the meeting on May 16. "Firstly, your current proper Tea exports packaging is unsatisfactory-in that, not adequate," a commerce ministry statement quoted Hasan as saying."We want the bulk tea shipments to Iraq from Sri Lanka well packaged, and wrapped with stamping. We suggest you to seal a 3D hologram to all tea packs above 10 Kgs. "Secondly we want a product certification from the Tea Board. Thirdly, we don’t want tea going to Iraq to go in open bags or packaging but want them to go in sealed containers." "We want you to waterproof-seal the tea containers at the port itself. Each container could be inspected by Iraqi representatives right here in Colombo port prior to sealing. "Also we want Sri Lanka government labs to test the teas before they are packed and rather than private sector lab tests. In fact, it would be better that not only Ceylon Tea but even other Lankan products heading to Iraq to be tested in a government lab prior to despatch. "The government lab report then could be sent to Bureau Veritas, the testing agency enlisted by Iraq." It is not clear how more stringent regulations, or government testing, imposed on legitimate exporters will help since so-called refuse tea exports are believed to be conducted by illegally. Sri Lanka has been cracking down on illegal exports by a so-called 'refuse tea mafia' and police have found ready to export tea labelled as anything from fibre and used tyres in the past. Illegal Trade The commerce ministry said Sri Lanka tea is a "prime target for illegal tea mixing cartels operating in Middle East region." Sabah had was also quoted as saying as follows: "It has been found that Lankan tea refuse, unfit for consumption, are exported under other product names than 'Tea', then off-loaded while in transit, and mixed with approved bulk Ceylon Tea shipments, and re-packaged as 'Pure Ceylon Tea' then sold in Iraqi markets, thereby tarnishing your global brand." It is not clear how fixing 3D holograms, or any additional controls Sri Lanka imposed on legitimate exporters inside will help prevent adulteration in third countries in Iraq itself using falsely labelled material. Sabah had also revealed that there are two Iraqi brands that sell refuse tea as Pure Ceylon Tea and were planning to 'black list' them, the commerce ministry said. Minister Bathiudeen had been shocked and explained that Sri Lanka's Tea Board was already inspecting tea exports and had promised to consult with the industry and stop illegal exports, the commerce ministry said. "We also visited and inspected several tea manufacturing factories and plantations in Sri Lanka," the ministry quoted Sabah as saying. "We saw the waste (refuse) in these factories. Even during your tea manufacture, there is dust and big tea shreds (scraps) mixing. "Therefore I think there is a problem with Sri Lanka’s tea. We do not like to see these ‘things’ since we as Iraqis, love Pure Ceylon Tea, using it for decades." It is not clear whether the reference to dust was to tea or some other material. Dust is a standard grade of tea, with slightly smaller particles than fannings. Refuse tea, though widely referred to as 'unfit for human consumption' in media reports, comes off the same production process as legal teas and is banned from export because it falls below an ISO standard for internationally traded commodities. It is mostly made up material such as stalk and falls below colour requirements among others. Tea drinkers in some countries in Africa are particularly attracted to its flavour, industry officials have said. Because refuse tea is below a 'legal' standard, and growers cannot legally export due to an export ban it has become an attractive target for illegal operators. But there have also been cases where refuse tea has been found to have been chemically treated or immersed in seawater to darken its colour.